Pretty Scrolled Table

Next weekend is Chartreuse's Spring Market Days.  I've been a busy bee and been painting like Van Gogh's painting frenzy in Arles. (I still have both ears!)

Just finished this table this morning:

French Stamp End Table

Before:  Nondescript, blah table:

After:  Wow!

I like to paint with Annie Sloan chalk paint (old white).  The Graphics Fairy has fantastic images.  I really like this french stamp image.  It was tiny, but The Graphics Fairy has a tutorials on how to enlarge images and various methods to apply the images.  The stamp printed out on 6 pages (reversed image)!  After cutting it out, I applied Mod Podge on the top of the painted table; carefully placed each piece (face down) on top of the Mod Podged table and smoothed out all the bubbles.  After a night of drying, I used a wet sponge and with  a lot of patience, gently wet/pealed away the paper until I got to the image.  Some of the image pulled away, but I liked the look.  After the image dried again, I applied 2 coats of Mod Podge (drying between coats) to the top of the image.  Then hand sanding.  A dry brush with a bit of Annie Sloan Emperor's Red chalk paint. More sanding.  Finished with Annie Sloan clear wax; dark wax, clear wax. <whew>

French Label End Table

I am very proud of this project...

This was one ugly, beat-up end table:

 And After:

 

I painted 1 coat of ASCP (cream = soft butter color).  The wood stain bled through, so I had to paint the entire table with a primer/sealer.  2 more coats of ASCP (cream).  For the label, I used a french label from The Graphics Fairy.  To enlarge the label, there is a section on the website dedicated to transferring images.  I used the 1st method to enlarge the label.  It took 4 sheets of paper (8.5x11) to print the entire label.  I cut out the label; taped the edges together, and applied mod podge to the front of the label; then placed the wet image face-down onto the top of the table.  I then smoothed out the air bubbles with a putty scraper.  The image dried overnight. To remove the paper, I wet it with water and slowly rubbed the paper off with my fingers.  Some of the image came away completely, but I liked the look...it gave the entire image a worn/antiqued look to it.  I then waxed the entire table/image with AS clear wax, then antiqued the table/image with AS dark wax.  A little sanding; then clear/dark/clear wax.

Whew!

French Demilune

This project took me 3 days, and my hands show it!

The table was inexpensive and I could never find a place for it; it was just too dark and blah.  I used 2 coats of Old White ASCP.  I used a french label from The Graphics Fairy.  I enlarged the image and  printed the image on Lesley Riley's Transfer Artist Paper.  I think I used the iron too long and transfer was yellowed.  Soooo...I got a little crazy with sandpaper.  Once I sanded the image, I was committed to sanding the table.  I  applied silver leaf on the dark brass medallions on the front of the table. I used Annie Sloan clear wax, then her dark wax. Some more sanding. And repeat wax sequence.

Et voila!

wow...my windows need a serious cleaning! <lots of lab nose prints!>

...and yes, my dining room walls are painted a watermelon red.  My house looks like a crayon box; soft green living room, french blue kitchen, provence yellow in the family room, etc.  :-)
 

Un Franc

I went thrifting last week and picked up a very ugly little stool for $4.  

So, I went to The Graphics Fairy and found this 1 franc image:

I used this great transfer paper (Lesley Riley's TAP Transfer Artist Paper) and after printing it on the paper, I followed the directions and ironed the image onto some burlap.  Amazon had the best price.


Now to take this thing apart:

Off with the first layer of fabric:

And another layer!

And another layer!!

Finally, foam:

Too nasty to keep; so, I removed the foam and used batting and adhesive spray:

               (That's Josie wearing her "Cone of Shame")

The board is underneath all that fluff!

(That's Luke...soaking wet)

Et Finis! 

I used Annie Sloan Old White for the wood; and used clear and dark wax to age the paint.

 Not bad for my first time.  :-)